How do you afford to have two kids in childcare?

[Londonmamabychance]

DD is 2, DS 1 month. I have 1 years' maternity leave and then due back at work ft.

But not sure what to do, as both kids full time fees will bee the equivalent of my salary. We live in London and nurseries are expensive, the one we have for DD is averagely priced for the area. Even with the free hours at 3 which she will get from Jan 2018, it's only a reduction of around £180, which is obvs not going to make a substantial difference.

What do other people do? Do you stay at home because it makes no sense to go to work financially? But I like working and am worried about loosing employability if I stay at home for too long.

Or do you find other options for childcare? In my area childminders are the same price admit as nursery, nannies even more expensive.

I just don't know how people afford having two kids in London! We are also thinking about moving further out, to afford more space, domyounknownif nurseroes are heaped in say, zone 4 or 5? But then I am worried about commuting time as we both work centrally in London. How would we vent be able to get the kids from
Nursery/school if our commute was so long? Do people get childminders to pick the kids up?

I know all these questions are the commonplace ones so many people are struggling with, and talking to other people about it too, but thought maybe the collective wisdom of mumsnet could offer some advice too!

You can use the 30 free hours with some childminders. Might be worth looking into? Good childminders provide stimulating activities and there are other children to play with. Also they can continue with the childminder before and after school when they are older so good continuity of care.

Sorry posted too early - make any money out of working due to childcare and travel costs?

Also, to answer some other suggestions, my partner works in media and always have short term contracts, part time not an option in his industry, neither is leaving early/comin in late. I can - and didn't before current maternity leave - with party time and will try to get that again incentive I go back. Won't really save anything that way though as my salary after tax is approx the kids childcare fees for one day, perhaps a bit more, so actually earning a bit by working full time.